A rose is a perennial flowering shrub or vine of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae, that contains over 100 species. The species form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp thorns. Natives, cultivars and hybrids are all widely grown for their beauty and fragrance

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Rose Bushes - The Basics Of Planting Your Own Rose Bush

by K. Finch

For many years, lovers have given roses and poets have written of their merits. Now, you may be considering showing how much you love roses by planting your own rose bushes. No doubt you've heard a lot about how to take care of roses - the diseases to watch out for and the ways to prune them. While it may sound pretty complicated, you'll find that planting your own rose bush is much easier than you think. If you take the following guidelines into consideration and use them, you'll be sure to do a great job and have a beautiful rose bush that will look wonderful.

Things to Do Before Planting Your Rose Bush

If you are waiting for spring to arrive so you can plant your rose bush, there are some things that you may want to do. You may want to start thinking about the types of bushes you want for your rose garden. There are hundreds of different rose bushes that you can choose from and it may be a bit difficult to make your choice. You may want to visit a nursery in your area to find out more about bushes. Also, look for friends and neighbors that have beautiful bushes and find out what types of bushes they are growing. Make sure that you know whether a certain bush is prone to disease or if it takes a lot of attention as well before making your choice.

Of course once you know what bush you want for your garden, then you'll need to come up with a great location for it as well. Make sure you come up with a good location before you even buy your rose bush. You need to be sure that your bush will get plenty of light each day and you should make sure that the soil drains well and that it is quite fertile.

When to Plant a Rose Bush

Usually if you are planting a rose bush that is bare root, you will want to plant it late in the winter. However, if you purchase a rose bush that has already been grown in a planter, you'll want to plant it during the spring. Just make sure that you don't plant roses during the summer months. While it is possible, it can be very hard on the new plant because of the hot weather.

Preparation for Planting Your Rose Bush

Now that you know what location you're going to plant the rose in, you need to get the bed ready. Make sure that you dig a hole that is going to be at least two times the size of the container holding your rose bush. Remember, the bush has a very large root system. If you make sure that your hole is large, it will be easier for the rose bush to put down it's roots.
When you dig out the soil, make sure to put it in a bucket or wheelbarrow. Then mix compost and topsoil with the soil and put part of the mixture into the hole. In some cases you may want to add phosphate fertilizer in the hole as well.

When you are dealing with a bare root rose bush, you'll want to soak it for awhile before you plant it. Once you have soaked the bush for at least a couple hours, you'll want to cut off the root tips with pruning shears, and then you'll be ready to plant the bush.

Planting the Bush

There are many bushes that will come along with planting instructions. Usually you'll want to put a mound at the bottom of the hole you have and then you put the bare root rose bush over this mound, making sure the roots are smoothly placed over it. If your roots curve up or they spread out in a flat manner, then you may not have to use the mound. Then you can start filling the hole back in; however, once you have it about 2/3 full with soil, make sure to water it. Once you have let the hole drain, then fill it again with water and then add the rest of the soil to the hole.

Caring for Your Rose Bush

Usually you'll need to give your new rose bush about an inch of water each week, but this can depend on the climate you are living in. Make sure that you recognize when your rose is in distress. If you notice that the leaves are drooping, you'll need to add some water. However, if the leaves are falling off and turning yellow, you may be giving them too much water.

About the Author
Check out The Joy of Rose Gardening now at http://www.roseflowergarden.com, to find great articles, advice, tips and much more on rose gardening topics.

Source: www.goarticles.com

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

How To Prune Rose Bushes Properly

by K. Finch

Once winter ends and the spring moves in, dedicated gardeners dig out their gardening tools and get ready for the new season full of roses. Many of these gardeners grab their shears and put on gloves and set out to their garden to prune their rose bushes. Pruning rose bushes allows for the new buds to bloom in spring. Since rose bushes go dormant, depending on where you live, you may be able to prune your rose pushes before spring. For example, if you live in a warmer climate, you can prune your rose bushes in the fall.

As any gardener should do, take the time to get to know your plants. Gardeners who are planning to prune their rose bushes should figure out what kind of roses they have. Every rose bush is different from the next. The main purpose of pruning a rose bush is to remove and reduce parts of the bush overall. These parts can be pruned off because they are unnecessary. Getting rid of these unneeded pieces will allow more air to flow to the bush as well as more sun distribution. Both of these factors will keep the plant healthy which leads to more beautiful blooms of roses.

New to pruning? No problem. Follow these five straightforward and simple steps and before you know it your rose bush will be pruned to perfection. No matter what kind of rose bush you have, these techniques are sure to work for every single type.

1. Before you begin to prune your rose bush, make sure you have a sharp and effective pair of hand shears. To begin, cut away the dead wood and remove any canes that are broken or damaged. If you are not sure as to what good and bad wood is, know that live wood is usually a greenish color and dead wood is usually black or a dark brown color. Living wood will be white inside. The importance of getting rid of dead canes is that it prevents any sort of disease or manifestation to spread to other parts of the plant. Pieces of wood that are thin should also be gotten rid of to promote the growth of healthier canes.

2. The next step is to prune. Make sure that all of your pruning cuts are made just above the buds, usually around ¼ inch. Also make sure that all of your cuts are clean. For a clean cut, angle your shears at a 45 degree angle. Try to avoid incomplete cuts. These can attract disease and insects. A rose bud resembles a small ball that grows along the length of the stem. New shoots of roses will grow here, so it is important that you do not remove the buds. If you do, don't fret, you just might be a few roses short. When pruning, cut the buds that face inwards. Cutting these specific buds will encourage growth of roses that point outwards. An outward budding plant receives more sunlight and air. Cutting these buds also allows for a better shape.

3. During the pruning process, it is also important to get rid of suckers and rootstock and dead cane. These usually emerge from the ground. These are important to get rid of because they attract bugs and disease that could ruin your rose bush. Don't forget to pick up all of the debris around the plant. Instead, throw it away in the trash so that it does not attract bugs to your plant

4. If the cut you are making is important, you might want to seal it with white wood glue. A significant cut would be one that is wider than the diameter of a pencil. These cuts should be sealed to help the plant heal quicker. Sealing also makes the pruning process less traumatic for the rose bush and keeps the insects away.

5. Lastly, it is important to prune your rose bushes properly throughout the growing season as well as year round. Always check the rose buds for vigor. If you see a piece of the bush that is positioned in the wrong way, remove it once the plant has bloomed. It is also vital to deadhead the rose bush. This means removing dead blossoms. This allows for better growth in the next growing season. Happy pruning!

About the Author
Check out The Joy of Rose Gardening now at http://www.roseflowergarden.com, to find great articles, advice, tips and much more on rose gardening topics.

Source: www.goarticles.com

Monday, May 26, 2008

Gardening: Caring for Roses Tips

by Lucy Gartner

A lot of people would love to consider gardening caring for roses. These flowers are among the most beautiful in the world. The usual problem though is that growing roses may become difficult if you aren't familiar with the right methods to handle them. Here are some basic tips to follow when caring for roses.

Before Planting

First of all, you should know that there are many different kinds of roses. Not all of them will grow well in the area where you live. The first step should therefore be to find out which kinds are best for your area. You can quickly research on this online or you can also ask some of your neighbors who grow roses for recommendations. Once you've settled on a kind you want to grow, you also have to consider the availability of an ideal area for roses. The spot for your roses should be accessible to sunlight, should be spacious and should have clean, rich and dry soil.

Feeding

Roses are plants that can really figuratively munch. You should therefore have a ready store of food for your roses. Not every rose expert will agree on the right way to feed roses. Some suggest giving roses small but regular meals. There are stores that sell packed rose food but always pick a brand with lots of nutrients.

Don't get too excited though. Some roses will simply not do well if you fertilize them too much. The general rule is that new rose plants should only be minimally fertilized. Only full grown roses should be given standard cup fertilizer rations. Some fertilizers are especially formulated for weekly use. These kinds of fertilizers however are not necessary. You can always opt for rose fertilizers that need to be mixed with the soil only once or twice annually.

Water Supply

It's obvious that gardening caring for roses won't be complete without watering. There are different recommendations but the usual tip is to give one or two inches of water every seven days. Water should be allowed to seep deep into the soil. It is often suggested too that water should not keep the soil and leaves wet for 24 hours. Water retention can be a cause for rose illnesses.

Cutting Stems

Pruning is a basic rose grooming tip you shouldn't neglect. You can start pruning as soon as buds make an appearance. Before you cut healthy stems, remove all the dead ones first. You should then consider diagonally cutting some chosen stems. This will allow you to shape your rose plant according to your preference.

Chemical Spray

One way to stop roses from getting sick is to spray them. You don't need to go into a lot of trouble. All you have to do is to buy a pre-mixed spray solution. You then just need to follow the package instructions for frequency and amount of application. Spraying is your best defense against common rose ailments.

Some may imagine that gardening caring for roses is difficult. All you really need though is a lot of time, diligence and patience to offer your rose plant.

About the Author
Discover the secrets of being a greenthumb. Discover more about gardening from gardening tips - caring for roses and more to vegetable gardening brisbane style.

Source: www.goarticles.com

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Rose Gardening Care - Infections And Treatments

All your hard work put into cultivating your roses can be destroyed easily by fungus or rose diseases if you are not careful during the cold months. As roses become more frail in the cold, they will also be more susceptible to fungi when it becomes warm again.

Although they might not get infected in winter, they are weaker and can fall prey to diseases that abound due to the humidity of the warmer seasons. So, your roses could still be afflicted with fungus although you have done all you could.

You will probably find some common types of illnesses associated with your roses:

Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a fungus. As its name suggests, a white powder is produced along the stems as well as on both sides of the leaves. If you neglect to see to the mildew, the rose will not mature fully as the leaves will drop off.

Rust

Rust on roses looks just like rust on metal will. It is seen on the underside of the leaves and it contaminates other plants.

Blackspot

Hybrid teas are completely resistant to blackspot, but other roses have been known to get it. If there are circular black spots on the leaves of the plant that are 1/16 to ½ inch in diameter, you might have the disease. Take action on the disease immediately before it has the chance to ruin the plant's foliage.

Rose Mosaic

Unlike most of the rose diseases that are fungi, the Rose Mosaic disease is a virus. The symptoms of this disease are similar to what you would expect from the name with discolored mosaic patterns of yellow and green.

The only way to stop this from spreading throughout your garden is to remove the plant entirely. You must also clear all clippings and leaves of the diseased plant to make sure it doesn't contaminate other plants. If the disease cannot be contained by yourself, seek professional aid and get commercial solutions that can help.

How can you avoid giving your plants these diseases? There are a few things you can do. Always water the soil around the rose and not the rose itself. Do take care not to let dead leaves pile up underneath, so clear the beds of roses often. Cut the diseased blooms right away and throw them in your trash can. Prune regularly. Close all cuts in the plant with Elmer's glue. Giving your rose nutrients often will make them stronger and less susceptible to diseases.

And you should know that you can opt to grow disease-resistant roses if possible to prevent the problems from arising. If you grown plants that are resistant to diseases and fungus, there is less threat of promoting threats to your plants.

About the Author
Moses Wright loves to work in his garden. He started this site to help fellow rose gardening enthusiast. You can find more free resources on rose gardening on his site: http://www.homelyfamily.com/roses.htm

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Planting Caring of Roses

By Sherry Russell - Powers

The first consideration of planting caring of roses is selecting the site for a rose garden. Air circulation and drainage are of utmost importance. Soil is not as important as it can be modified.

Roses do not do well where air cannot move over them freely. Too often a rose garden is surrounded by a tall evergreen hedge for decorative effect. This delegates the gardener to a constant battle with blackspot and mildew. When there is a choice, pick a location where the air moves freely, but not where the roses will not have to beat the force of the winter and summer harsh winds. Light filtered shade at noon is beneficial. All roses for planting caring of roses require five hours or more of direct sunshine a day. Whatever part of the property is selected, it needs to have good drainage. Garden roses cannot tolerate wet soil. Roses need loose friable soil, filled with humus.

All roses (except) a miniature ought to have a hole dug at least two feet deep and two feet square. In the middle of the hole, build up a cone about 12 inches high of the soil taken from the hole. If the soil is not good, add good purchased soil with compost and some fertilizer and work together thoroughly. The idea of the cone is to direct the roots of the plant upward. Set your unwrapped rose plant on top of this cone with the roots spread out. Now fill in using only good topsoil. When the roots are covered and the hole is about half full, step into it with both feet. Press the soil down so that it is in firm contact of the roots. Run water into the hole until full and let the water settles. Fill the hole the rest of the way with soil. Pile extra soil around the plant, and remove it a little at a time when the top shows signs of growth. The mounded soil protects the stems from sun and wind.

Use rose food. Most fertilizer programs provide too much plant food. More roses are killed from overfeeding than by starvation. There is no clear formula for feeding a rose. Each rose garden differs and the right amount will be determined by trial and error. Feed a little and watch. When growth seems to be slowing, see what effect another dose will produce. Discontinue adding rose food in early fall so that your rose is not killed should you have an early frost.

Planting caring of roses will always need good air circulation and drainage.

Sherry Russell - Powers http://rosetypesonline.com

Monday, May 12, 2008

Different Types of Roses

Pink knockout roses will require 6 hours of full sun to do well and flower a lot but they can take less you get less flowers. Just keep an eye on them the first year to see that they don't burn. The first year is always the trickiest because you want the young plants to make good cane growth. Then when they harden off for the winter, there will be no trouble with the sun the next summer. If you see them burning, it looks terrible, simple throw wet newspaper over them in the first 6 weeks after planting them and keep them well watered until the new feeder roots can take the water up themselves.

Again that takes about 6 weeks. I wouldn't fertilize them if they are going to be a very hot sun as this could burn them. Put some rose goodies in the hole to feed them such as compost, a bag of steer manure and 1/2 cup of bone meal for the roots to munch on. Next spring continue to fertilize and water so they don;'t dry out next the warm bricks.

The roses you mentioned are all good roses. I have Souvenir de la Malmaison, it seems to bloom a lot only in the spring. Old Blush is pretty but to me, not really good in form for cut roses. New Dawn, is very pretty and from what I've heard has good repeat bloom. I have First Prize climbing, but the problem with climbing hybrid teas they usually don't repeat much after the spring. There is a sport of New Dawn that is pinker called "Awakening".

Another beautiful climber you could consider is Devoniensis, pink in bud, white when fully open. I have Madame Alfred Carriere and it is a monster, very large and usually has at least some blooms all year round, but it is white. For pink climbers, I would pick Elie Beauvillain, a noisette/tea or Parade, hybridized by Gene Boerner - the master hybridizer. They are both repeat blooming. Both these roses get up to at least 15 ft.

You could purchase any of the roses I recommended on the Antique Rose Emporium website, or you can do a search or check on the Help me Find Roses website for other web sources of these roses. But if I were you, I would get Elie Beauvillain. Teas and Noisettes do very well in our area, and it is a cross of both.

I have three yellow rose bushes spread out throughout my garden. The past 4 years, along as I have had them, they have produced beautiful yellow roses. This year, one of the bushes is producing bright pink roses with no hint of yellow. Roses are like human beings and have blood lines. When a breeder is looking to bred a new rose they select the roses from other roses blood lines and then mix them. There are enough roses that go into making another. A new rose that would fill a legal size page. What has happened to your rose is that it has sported to one of the roses in it's background. Usually though it is only one flower that sports.

You can always go on the internet and look up any sites that you can find about roses. If not then you can just go to your local green house and ask them questions on your roses. But you should be happy that you got your roses to change color without having to go out and buy a different color roses. I know that that might sound bad but a lot of people that want to try and change there color of roses don't always get the color that they want.

So they end up having to spend more money on roses just to try and get the color that they want. But your roses do sound like they are very pretty and hope that you will enjoy your new roses.

About the Author
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for http://www.SendFlowersGift.info/. SendFlowersGift.info offers same day flower delivery within the US and Canada, as well as fast worldwide delivery to international destinations. Start here to search by "Occasion": http://www.SendFlowersGift.info/catego

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

History of the Yellow Kronos Rose

Kronos is an Australian rose variety known for its warm, pale yellow petals and subtle perfume.
The Kronos rose is among the one hundred and twenty flower species developed by the Australian Man of Roses Alister Clark. While most rose breeders in the mid-1800's focused on the finding the rose with perfect color, scent, or form, Alister Clarke was more interested in making use of the continent's temperate climate for cultivating flowers.

A rose from the Himalayas and Burma called R. Gigantea was the father rose of his breeding program. Due to its sensitivity to cold weather it was not very popular among European rose breeders, although it flourished well in Mediterranean countries. In Australia, Clark discovered that the R. gigantea could climb up to twelve meters through trees.

From the R. gigantea, Clark was able to successfully breed garden-variety roses, among which are the Nancy Hayward and the Lorraine Lee. After Alister Clark's death in 1949 however, many of his rose species were lost since he was unable to pass on his secrets to an apprentice breeder. Fortunately, two rose breeders were able to recover about 47 of Alister's roses from the families of the women who were named after the flowers, and the Kronos rose was one of them.
The popularity of Kronos roses is not just limited within the borders of Australia. Rose enthusiasts across the globe love these blooms for the sweet memories their sunny yellow color evokes. The Kronos rose variety has spread throughout the world grown by popular rose suppliers and distributed by major flower traders and florist. Kronos is a favorite among European flower farmers in England, France and Holland. South American farms in Equador and Columbia export this flower to various American states. In Asia, flower farms in the Philippines, Vietnam, and India supply this popular flower variety.

Unlike other rose colors that convey passion and romantic love, yellow roses send messages of devotion, appreciation, gratitude, and platonic love. Kronos roses are a beautiful way to express thanks, congratulations, to brighten up a bad day, or to simply bring a smile to someone's face. Yellow roses also represent renewal and convey the desire to start all over again to achieve a better tomorrow, making them ideal to give as an apology or peace offering.

You don't even need an occasion to buy a bouquet of Kronos roses for yourself, as they make gorgeous centerpieces for your bedroom or living room. Send a friend a bouquet of Kronos roses today and let him or her know that you care.

About the Author
Timothy Spencer is a creative writer and editor for Island Rose, a leading flower delivery service in the Philippines. For more interesting article like this, we welcome you to visit the Island Rose Flowers Philippines or Flower Delivery Philippines blog pages.

Sunday, May 04, 2008

Growing Roses In Dry Climates - Preconditions For Success

There are a number of decisions of a design nature that determine whether or not your roses will look good. There are also special seasonal tasks, such as pruning, that are essential for success. But sandwiched between the two, are the basic cultural requirements that have to be met in order to get the most from the rose bushes. These requirements could be termed the preconditions for success.

Choosing the right location.

Roses require exposure to at least six hours of direct sunlight in hot Mediterranean climates, mostly in the morning. In regions with less light intensity, they probably need more. Roses should not be planted under trees, not only because of the shade, but also because they compete poorly with the trees' roots. For the same reason, they should not be planted too close to shrubs either.

While roses can thrive in hot, dry climates, they suffer in warm, humid ones. Gardeners can unintentionally create excessive humidity, by planting the bushes where there is insufficient movement of air, or by placing the plants too close to each other. Whatever the cause, humid conditions are ideal breeding grounds for fungi that plague roses, such as powdery mildew. It is important therefore to know the width of the plants' growth, and to fix the distance between the roses, accordingly. Do not be tempted to over-plant.

Soil conditions

To grow well and flower profusely, roses need highly porous soil. If the earth is clumpy and hard, it must be broken up and improved with massive quantities of compost. In either very heavy, clay soil, or alternatively, extremely light, sandy soil, some 60 liters per square meter, is by no means excessive. In medium, loamy soils on the other hand, about 20 liters should suffice.
While many wild species of rose are of Mediterranean origin and even harsher Central Asian climates, the cultivated varieties that make up the bulk of garden specimens are not especially drought resistant. In areas without summer rain, it is essential to supply them with regular water. Unquestionably, drip irrigation is preferable to overhead sprinklers, because not only do the latter waste more water, but they add 100% humidity into the bargain! Never forget that an improper watering regime is liable to deplete the soil of oxygen; a condition to which roses are particularly sensitive.

Mulching the soil

Covering the soil with an organic mulch helps to reduce water loss, retard weeds, and perhaps most crucially in hot climates, moderate the temperature at the topsoil level. In my view, mulching with an aesthetically pleasing material like wood chippings is preferable, design wise, to under planting the rose bushes with flowers. While in cultural terms, infinitely improved growing conditions are attained, without the roses having to contend with any competition from rival plants.

About the Author
My name is Jonathan Ya'akobi. I've been gardening in a professional capacity since 1984. I am the former head gardener of the Jerusalem Botanical Garden, but now concentrate on building gardens for private home owners. I also teach horticulture to students on training courses. I'd love to help you get the very best from your garden, so you're welcome to visit me on http://www.dryclimategardening.com or contact me at jonathan@dryclimategardening.com

Friday, May 02, 2008

A Nursery Full Of Roses

by Hillary Templeton

Times have changed but roses have remained as one of the most favored among all known flowers across generations. Roses also get a position of pride in flower nurseries, simply due to the fact that they come in a wide range of colors and variety and make any nursery come alive with their presence. With the right kind of knowledge and application of techniques, you will be able to cultivate the best variety of healthy and colorful roses with ease.

Way To Grow Roses

You can either have potted roses or pick up bare root roses which can be re-planted in your garden easily. Potted rose plants are also more expensive because of the amount of effort that goes into developing a healthy potted plant. Gardeners Alan Titchmarsh and Christopher Freville recommend that root rose plants are easier to take care of as they settle in faster than the potted variety. When to Plant

The preferable time for planting roses is believed to be from early spring to early fall .Bare root roses are usually planted before the new shoots begin to grow. Ideally they should be planted as soon as they are bought. However, if there is a time lapse in between, the suggested way of keeping them is in a cool, moist and dark place. Let Them Catch The Sun

A nursery of roses should ideally be located where the plants are able to get enough sun for most part of the day. If the weather in the place tends to lean towards higher temperatures then some shade would be preferred so that the plants are not over exposed to the heat. Shady areas in woodland around Solihull may not contain enough sunlight.

Enough Air To Breathe In

Not many living things thrive in damp, dark places with no fresh air and roses are no exception. In fact if they are not exposed to enough air, they stand a chance of being attacked by fungus which is a natural inhabitant of places which do not enjoy free air circulation.

Place Them Right

Spacing also depends on the variety of the plant and its growth habits. Although traditionally the spacing is supposed to be 24 inches between neighboring plants it is also important to keep your roses as far away as possible from plants which as susceptible to fungal attacks. Adequate spacing that allows free air circulation helps plants to grow better

Fitting them In

Soaking the roots in a bucket of water an hour before is recommended. The hole which has to be prepared before the rose is planted should be at least fifteen inches deep and eighteen inches wide with a generous helping of organic matter and fertilizer added in. A small mound is made in the center of the hold, the roots are spread over it and the hole is filled up.

Once the plant is fixed right, adequate watering is required along with pruning, weeding and regular conditioning of the soil. This will help your roses to grow strong, healthy and beautiful.

About the Author
Hillary Templeton gives advice to women of all types of ovarian cysts on her website. Click here for more information on ruptured ovarian cysts http://www.ovariancystshelp.com